Telephone system



se UH F. M. SLOUGH TELEPHONE SYSTEM Original Filed .Oct.

June 12, 1923.

Patented June 12, 1923.

'UNITED STATES PATENT oFFic FnAn M. sLoUGn, or ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR To rHEsrRoMBnRe-oAnL- son TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or ROCHESTER, NEW Yoax, A con- PORATION OF NEW YORK.

TELEPHONE $YSTEM.

Originalapplication filed October 14, 1914, Serial No.- 866,583. Patent No. 1,407,892, dated, February28,' v

1922. Divided. and this application fi1ed- December .11, 1917.

To all whom it moi concern:

Be it known that I, F RAN-K SLoUeH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and 5 State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as "will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

My invention relates to telephone systems, and more particularly to systems in which an associate multiple is employed, that is, an improved system in which the call of a subscriber is indicated at a plurality of posi= tions, or before a plurality of operators, and may be answered by any operator.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide-improved means to indicate to operators who answer a call the condition of the line with respect to the previous connection of another line control-ling mechanism to that line, or to its condition of disengagement from all other line mechanisms. I aim to indicate these conditions in a suitable and adequate manner, and to combine this feature with other desirable features in such a way, as to enable the apparatus to *be installed without prohibitive complications or expense.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved means to prevent theoperator from being connected to a line whose i-ncoming call has already been answered by another operator. I aim also to accomplish these last functions by convenient and effi cient means, and by such a combination of means as to meet all operating, conditions, such as lines of various resistance, capacity, etc. 7

These and other objects of my invention, and the invention itself will be better understood from a description of embodiments thereof.

This application is a division of-my Patent N 0. 1,407,892, patented February 28,1922.

() and C tor at C only is shown, tho it will be read-f what const Serial No. 206,576.

i In Fig. 11 'have'illustrateddiagrammatica-lly parts of a telephone system including two telephone lines and an interconnecting mechanism embodying my invention.

.In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a telephone line connecting mechanism adapted to be employed a system,and when so employed embodying my invention.

in Fig. 1.

In Fig 4 I have-illustrated a'form of telephone line adapted to be used inconnection with the embodiment shown in F ig 2;

In Fig. '3 I have illustrated a particular I form ,of relayv adapted to ice employed at X,-

Referring first-briefly to the embodiment illustratecl in Fig. 1, at I is illustrated a telephoneline, which may, for convenience, be sp okenof as the calling line. The calling line leads toa main station,

indicated by I11 At'II is shown-a second telephone line, which leads from a substation B to. the main station'III The line II may be spoken ,of as the called line. Vhile I have shown but a single station on each of the calling and called lines, it will be apparent that any suitable number of stations may be I located upon these lines. In Fig.4 I have shown two sub-stations upon the line. i

T Suitable telephone line interconnecting.

mechanisms areuprovided at the main sta- I tion for connecting telephone lines together, and are here illustrated as link conductors A portion of the link conducmeans are provided for connecting thelink conductors to the telephone lines, he re shown as jacks J J*,J and J and plugs P P and P,.. The jacks I and J are associated with the calling line, and the plug P which may be spoken of as the answer- The jacks J and J are associated with the called line and the plug P which may be called the calling plug. is. edapted ,to co-operate with these iacksf. The structure and mode of operation .ot the apparatus illustrated in Flg. 1 1s andthe results achieved by the embodiment shown 1nv F1g. Twill beunderstooo by those skilled in the art thru'e brief description of the operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. y The subscriber at A attracts the attention of the operator controlling the cord thru the operation of, the signal E in well 7 known manner. The plug P inserted into the-jack J' completing a circuit for thecutcit relay F and the highresistance .3Qloif the. relay 15 Both F and V be operated, provided no other cord-is con- 'anothern 31.

.9 will nected to, the-line} If, however, cord is connected to ithe line the' relay H ;.will not be operated, since a shunt will have been completed aboutthe high resistance winding in awmanner which will be apparent from the ClQSCIlptlOn following.

The energization of relayfll completes shunt 316 aboutthe winding); 304i, inc-ludin the low resistance 3O5',wi'1icl1 maintains the energizationvotthe relay H and which. so low-as to, prevent asupply of sufficient currentto the highresistance winding 320.

of a relay H in a secondcord G which might be connectedto. a multiple ack, of

, thei linel yby-asecond operator 'in an effort to-res 0nd to the call ot the subscriber;

thereon. The energization of H1. sconnects "the operators set to the calling line and closes hitherto-opencontacts vinthe circuit of the relay iX -c Which is contacts of the relay 0.

the relay L has beenenergized and a'circuit is completed for the relay 7, which; causes. the operation of the signal 3t1to In the meantime,

indicate to the operator that her set' has been connected to the calling subscriber. The failure of thelanip 341 to light would indicateqto the operator that some; other operator had capturedthe call.

After learning the desire of the sub- .scriber atr'A the ,operatonconnects with A circuit Will also the called lineand assuming the same is- .idle, ==places the automatic ringing apparatusin operation, and upon the response or the called subscriber, suchappara-tusis disconnected-and the two subscribers placed in telephonlc communication. Upon the retirement ot the subscribers, the relay L *willbe deenergizedand therelay X energized; disconnecting the'plu s; P from the cord circuit. Y5 will: be" operated.

At-the same time the signal have been completed for the low resistance winding 305 of the ndi c i I! relays F still open at the.

ready attracted arniutures.

relay H which circuit includes the conas :tollowszn, Tosecure a connection with the subscriber at E the subscriber at 'li removes the. receiyer 307 from the hook switch BOShwhioh rises and engages'the contact 2, completing a circuit thru the relay D es follows; ground 3,- battery l relay D swi tch 5,li ne conductor- 6-telephone set at l l -switch at i2-switch at 7 to ground at 309. Therelay D will be-en e closing the switch 8 and completing a-circnit thru the lamps a'nd. I ;-'4L8--and E lzind 9-tov ground 7. 10f vresgectively.v ted, and being :at different operators i ons ii'ill indicate to the diilerent operntors that the-subscri er at T desires a connection, One oi?! the-operators will rc x-apond'to this connection. Assuming that Y the operator controlli the cord C is the first to respond, by inserting -pluglP into jecl-t circuits will-be completed foi' the H pand- L as follows: ground A 310 31l3-301 resistance winding 304s of the relay battery Z, T 'tO; ground The relay i opons'the switches c aim 7, 'oisconncctthe liner-relay andolsinps from the line The larnp will 312 31S-the [L amtcausing; theextinguishing otthe";v

lamps; -The relayl l closes a switch 315 and completes a shunt 316 about the high resistance winding-804%,.[ndcircuit thru a low TBSlSYZIIlCQ; winding 305. circuit thru 305 is as follows: ground 3l-5eZ 205%315 31;6-312301-+311--310a E to ground lractica all of the current new Flows thru 305 and energizes the relay dil suiiicimitly- .to'hold down the al- (?O31(ll)i0l flf de- -thru the switch 321thru the plug l and ack .l switch 2 and back to 307. 'The operation of the switch closed.contacts hitherto open in the circuit of the magnet oitX which will be completed later as later described.

- The ener ization of the magnet of L opens'the sw1tch330 inthe circuit ofX During these operations, a circuit was com- The relay H circuit: beginning .pleted for the magnet f (adjacentthe operators set G astollows: ground 335the lower windingof the magnet L a portion.

of the answering end ofthe tip talking strand of the cord circuitfswitch 32l-conductor 324-thru f-back over conductor 325+switch 322 a portion of the cord circuitthe conductor l2 the upper wi nding of the magnet L ,-ba ttery back to ground 33,6. Themagnet will closethe switch 340 and complete a circuit thru the lamp 341, causing the energization of the same and indicating to the operator at G, that she has captured the call. 1

If now a second operator, such as for example, the one controlling the cord, a por-* tion of which is indicated at C were to undertake to connect her set with'the line A,, the low resistance winding 805 would shunt so much current from the high resistv ance winding 320 of the relay H as to prevent the operation of such relay, and such connection; or, if, on the other hand, the operator controlling the cord C had an-' swered the call of the subscriber at A and connected her cord. to the calling line before the connection of the cord C thereto,the relay H would never have been energized, be cause of the low resistance shunt thru the lowerwinding of the relay H preventing the operation of the relay H in the manner described. Of course, the magnet f would never have been energized, since its circuit a is not completed until after relay H is en ergized. The signalB ll would never have been lighted, and the operator would have at B, that was desired, the operator seeks. out a jack of the line and tests the same by applying to the terminal of a jack of such line the tip of the ,plugP The test circuit will be traced thru theswitch 34:2 to ground at 13. I have shown this particular form of test circuit,tho any suitable form may be employed. e If the line II were busy, the operator would so report to the subscriber at A,,'

but if 11, were idle, the plug]? would be inserted into the jack J. A circuit would be completed for the magnets of the relay 6 and F, in a manner which will be understood from the previous description, F,-operrating as F disconnectsthe line relay and signals from the line. The magnet c closes I the switch 351-650 in thestill open circuit 7 of the magnet The magnet 6 opens the switches 14 and 15 and disconnects the oper- I ators set. The magnet e opensthe switch 342,313 in the test circuit, and closes a switch 16 in the cord circuit.

The operator next depresses a ringingkey for the purpose of causing the ringing. of the bell 17 at the station 13,. Assuming that the switch 355 controls the character ofcurrent desired, 355 will be closed, together with the master switch 356. The closing of 356 completesa circuit for the relay T,,, which interrupts the talking strands of the cord circuit and completes ,the'ringing circuith The ringing takes place over the following circuit: from ground l8 -thru ringing machine U and associate interrupter 355--V,19l16 overone side of. the called .linebell 17back overthe other side of the called line-thru switch 20- to ground at 21 The'character of current flowing thru the relay V, and thesignal device 17 would not be sufficient to cause the actuation of the relay V however, when the subscriber at B responds, the character of this .current would be modified in such a way as to cause the actuation of the relay V which will open the circuit of the relay T which ,will in turn interrupt the ringing circuit,

disconnecting the ringingapparatus from the line andcompleting the cord circuit. Thecircuit of the relay T, thus interrupted,

included a switch 22, a switch 23 and swn n' 350%351, and was completed at by the ma'gnet of T.,. I

The subscribers at B, and A, are now in communication. At the termination of the conversation, their rece vers are restored to the hooks and the circuit of the relay L, is interrupted, de-energizingthis relay,

whereupon the switch 330 and 331 is closed, completing a circuit 1 thru the magnet X and lamp Y 3 as follows: ground 25lamp Y and magnet-X in parallel-331-33O- The magnet X, disconnects the .plug P, from the talking strand ofthe'cord circuit by openingthe switches 26 and 27. The magnet X completes a second GHQ-11151101 the low resistance. winding 305 of the magnet H so as to maintain the same energized. This 380. The operator observing the burning" of the lamp Y withdraws the plug P, from the lackJ, interruptingthe circuit of the magnet e, which permits the opening of the switch350-35l, whereupon the apparatus is restored to the normal condition illustrated in the drawing.

In View of the above: descriptionofthe embodiment shown in Fig. 1, it is 'beliere d that a brief description of the embodiment.-

shown in Fig.2 will sufiice. I I

When the'plug P, is inserted, ,say into a jack J of a calling line I upon which there I arelstations A and A a circuit will be com pleted for themagnets ofthe relaysF and the high resistancewinding 404 of the relay H as follows: from ground 410-battery 409-404408-40T406-405thru F to ground. Relay H, willattract its armature 411, closing a switch 411-412 in the circuit 'ol the magnet X H, will also attract armatures 413 and 414, closing switches 413 415' and 414-416 and connecting the oper-' atorsset to the cord-circuit. It will also attract armature 41?, closing a switch 417- 418 and completing a shunt 419" al'iout the high resistance wind mg 404, which shunt includes the low resistance Winding 420, which will maintain" the energization of the relay and prevent the connection ot a second ator to'tbe line I by shunting the high resist'ance winding 404 of the cord or such "operator.

At the time the cord was connected to the calling line, the magnet of L was operated,

opening a switch'425 and 426 in the circuit closes contacts in the circuit of the magnet X opens the testcircuit 431 and closes *cOnftacts in the cord c rcuit.

The operator then depresses the ringing key, which-operates the relay T and connects the ringing machine on to the cord circuit. Atthe response ofthe called subscriber, the relay V, will be energized and the ringing apparatus disconnected from the cord. dNhen the calling subscriber hangs up, the relay L, will be'de-energized, completing; the circuit for the magnet-X and the signal Y The magnet X, will disconnect the plug P from the cord and will interrupt the circuit of the winding 420 ofthe relay H, at 406 and-407. This'interruption," however, will notoccur until after the closure of the switch 440'441 by the attraction of the armature 441- by the magnet X,. This will complete a" second circuit for the winding 420 over conductor 442- switchf440 441 switch 412- 411 conductor. 443 switch444'- 445 --"to ground 446. When the plug P 'is 'withdrawn, the circuit will be interrupted'at 4-l4-445 and the circuit oi? the magnet will be interrupted and the system restored tonorma'l. 7'

From the above description of the cm bodiments oi? my invention it will be apparent that my' ideas may be incorporated in a numberot different forms Oil} apparatus, some of which I have illustrated simply for the purpose of describing the invention, and not that I desire to be limited to the form and details thereof, from which many departures may be made without departing from thespirit ofthe invention. It will also be seen that'my invention contemplates novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of the several parts of the operimproved system, whereby certain important advantages are attained by simple, inexpensive apparatus which performs the desired functions greatly speeding up the operation of a telephone system. I

Iclaim:

1. In a'telephone system, the'combination of a telephone line, a telephone line interconnecting mechanism including talking strands,'two-'operators sets,-means' to connect each set to said telephone line, ap paratus to prevent the contemporaneous connection of said sets to s'aidlines including a magnet double-wound with one relatively high and one relatively low resistance windingand a shunt of thehig'h resistance'winding controlled by said magnet, and a circuit for said magnet including a portion of one of said talking strands.

2. In a telephone system, the combination of means including a relay for preventing the contemporaneous connection of two operators sets to a single telephone'line, means for automatically interruptingthe' strands of the link conductors withwhich said re- 'lay is associated when the calling subscriber retires, a circuit for said'relay including contacts of the link andlme terminals, means for maintaining said relay energized after the operation of'sa d-disconnect means,'said means comprisinga source of current and a circuit, saidcircuit comprising contacts adapted to be closed when the said automatic intermpting means is operated, and comprising other contacts, said other contactsxbe ing normally open and adapted to be closed when the link circuit is connected to a called telephone line and responsive to disconnect therefrom to open the said circuit, a pair of windings for the said relay, one of "the said windings being of relatively low resistance, a circuit for the last named winding comprising normally open contacts of the rel y V v i v 3. In a telephone system, the combination of means including a relay for preventing the contemporaneous connection-0t two operators sets'to a singletelephone line, means for automatically interruptinn'the strands of the link conductors with which said relay is associated when the calling subscriber retires, a circuit for said relay including-contacts of the cord and line terminals and means for maintaining said relay energized after the operation of said'disconnect means,

sistance one ofsaid windings.

4. In actelephone system, the'combination of meansincluding a relay'for' preventing "the contemporaneous ,connectlon of two operators sets to a single telephone line, means for automatically interrupting the strands of the link conductors with; which. said relay is associated when the calling subscriber passing through a relatively high resistance retires, a circuit for said relay lncludin one of said windings, and contacts controlled contacts of the cord and line terminals an means for maintaining said relay energized rent through its other winding.

by the operation of the relay to direct cur- 10 after the operation of said disconnect means, In witness whereof, I havehereunto signed f p 7 said relay having a pair of windings, said my name this 3rd day of December, 1917. relay being initially operated by current t FRANK M. SLOUGH. 

